Jurors begin deliberations in Amanda Hayes murder trial

Published: Monday, February 17, 2014 at 07:24 PM.

RALEIGH – The guilt or innocence of Amanda Perry Hayes concerning the homicide of former Kinston resident Laura Jean Ackerson is now in the hands of the jurors.

Hayes – wife of Grant Ruffin Hayes III, a Kinston native who was convicted of Ackerson’s first-degree murder in September – stands charged of first-degree murder and accessory after the fact in Ackerson’s death.

Defense counsel went first in closing statements Monday morning, as Amanda Hayes’ attorney Johnny Gaskins repeated the defense’s contention that she didn’t know anything about a murder or dismemberment until the couple and their children arrived at her sister’s residence outside Richmond, Texas.

It was then, Gaskins said, when Grant Hayes used threats and intimidation against his wife to get her to confess to the crime to her sister and help dispose of Ackerson’s remains.

He also commented on prosecutors calling former fellow inmate of Amanda Hayes, Patricia Barakat, to the stand Friday in rebuttal testimony, saying they were acting out of panic.

Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger disputed that notion, saying the only part the defense agreed with – when Barakat said Amanda Hayes told her Ackerson’s death was accidental – had more to it.

“If it was an accident, they can’t convict me,” as Zellinger paraphrased what Barakat said on the stand. “And she smiled.”

RALEIGH – The guilt or innocence of Amanda Perry Hayes concerning the homicide of former Kinston resident Laura Jean Ackerson is now in the hands of the jurors.

Hayes – wife of Grant Ruffin Hayes III, a Kinston native who was convicted of Ackerson’s first-degree murder in September – stands charged of first-degree murder and accessory after the fact in Ackerson’s death.

Defense counsel went first in closing statements Monday morning, as Amanda Hayes’ attorney Johnny Gaskins repeated the defense’s contention that she didn’t know anything about a murder or dismemberment until the couple and their children arrived at her sister’s residence outside Richmond, Texas.

It was then, Gaskins said, when Grant Hayes used threats and intimidation against his wife to get her to confess to the crime to her sister and help dispose of Ackerson’s remains.

He also commented on prosecutors calling former fellow inmate of Amanda Hayes, Patricia Barakat, to the stand Friday in rebuttal testimony, saying they were acting out of panic.

Assistant District Attorney Boz Zellinger disputed that notion, saying the only part the defense agreed with – when Barakat said Amanda Hayes told her Ackerson’s death was accidental – had more to it.

“If it was an accident, they can’t convict me,” as Zellinger paraphrased what Barakat said on the stand. “And she smiled.”

Prosecutors went through Amanda Hayes’ own testimony, noting gaps in time from Ackerson’s last contact with another person and Amanda Hayes showing up in surveillance footage buying fast food.

They also showed images during the period of Ackerson’s disappearance of Amanda Hayes purchasing goods believed used in Ackerson’s dismemberment, disposing of what’s believed to be muriatic acid and of her stop at an ATM, confronting the theory she was under duress.

In several images shot by the couple themselves – shortly following when Ackerson’s remains were placed in the creek by Amanda Hayes’ sister’s residence – Zellinger maintained the couple, appearing in all smiles, were in fact celebrating Ackerson’s demise.

Jurors were instructed they could convict on first-degree murder, second-degree murder or – deciding Amanda Hayes was not guilty of murder – being an accessory after the fact for first-degree murder or accessory for second-degree murder, or not guilty entirely.

Deliberations restart today at 9:30 a.m. at the Wake County Justice Center.

Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 and Wes.Wolfe@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.